Former Financial Times Group CEO Rona Fairhead started her new role as BBC Trust chair on Thursday, vowing to ensure the U.K. public broadcaster's independence and focusing staff on the importance of meeting the “changing needs" of its audiences. Fairhead visited the BBC headquarters in central London Thursday morning, near the Trust's office. The Trust is the governing body of the public broadcaster and was previously led by former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten who stepped down, citing health reasons, earlier this year. She is the first female BBC Trust chair. In an email memo to BBC staff, Fairhead
read more...
read more...
- 10/9/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rona Fairhead is believed to be in line to become the new chairwoman of the BBC Trust, the governing body of the U.K. public broadcaster, according to a report on its own news website. The former head of the Financial Times Group, Fairhead is understood to be the U.K. government’s preferred replacement for Chris Patten, who resigned in May citing ill health, and will become the Trust’s first female chair should she get final approval by Queen Elizabeth II. The BBC Trust, which operates independently of BBC management and external bodies, was set up in 2007 with the
read more...
read more...
- 8/30/2014
- by Alex Ritman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lord Seb Coe has confirmed that he has withdrawn from becoming the next BBC Trust chairman.
The British Olympic Association chairman and Tory peer had previously been tipped as the favourite for the role.
However, he has told the Daily Mail that he intends to stand for the presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Coe explained that he did not have enough time to devote himself to the role, and that athletics was "in his DNA".
He said: "I did allow my name to go forward to give myself time to properly analyse whether I had enough time to do the job to the best of my abilities.
"On reflection, I haven't the capacity and I now want to concentrate on my current commitments and the Iaaf election. As everyone knows, athletics is in my DNA."
Coe will now attempt to succeed Lamine Diack as president of the...
The British Olympic Association chairman and Tory peer had previously been tipped as the favourite for the role.
However, he has told the Daily Mail that he intends to stand for the presidency of the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Coe explained that he did not have enough time to devote himself to the role, and that athletics was "in his DNA".
He said: "I did allow my name to go forward to give myself time to properly analyse whether I had enough time to do the job to the best of my abilities.
"On reflection, I haven't the capacity and I now want to concentrate on my current commitments and the Iaaf election. As everyone knows, athletics is in my DNA."
Coe will now attempt to succeed Lamine Diack as president of the...
- 7/29/2014
- Digital Spy
Former Olympic runner Sebastian Coe is the leading contender to become chairman of the BBC Trust, the governing body of the U.K. public broadcaster, ahead of interviews with five shortlisted candidates, The Guardian reported on Wednesday. It said that the leading internal candidate to replace Chris Patten, who stepped down from the role earlier this year citing health reasons, has not made the shortlist. Diane Coyle, acting chair of the BBC Trust, doesn't feature on the British government's list of people who will interview for the post, the paper said. The news comes during a week
read more...
read more...
- 7/23/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – Chris Patten, the former chairman of the BBC Trust, will take on a new role advising Pope Francis on the Vatican's media operations and how to improve them. The Vatican confirmed the appointment to the part-time role, in which he will chair an advisory committee over the next year. It is expected to provide a report in the summer of 2015. Patten's role is scheduled to start in September. The Financial Times quoted Patten as saying that the unpaid role was "important and challenging" and would see him focusing on how to further develop the Roman Catholic
read more...
read more...
- 7/9/2014
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Seb Coe has reportedly been approached about the role of BBC Trust chairman.
The Lord is said to have the full backing of David Cameron to succeed Lord Patten as chairman, following the latter's resignation, The Guardian reports.
Coe is understood to have been approached by government officials in an informal manner. He is seen as a strong contender due to his Conservative credentials, as well as his involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
His personal assistant Susie Black commented: "Seb is linked to every job in London and this is another one. This is speculation at the moment."
However, ITV News's Simon Harris tweeted that London Mayor Boris Johnson thinks Coe's appointment would be "fantastically good news for the BBC Trust and for broadcasting generally".
Patten announced his decision to step down as BBC Trust chairman, following major heart surgery, earlier this month.
The Lord is said to have the full backing of David Cameron to succeed Lord Patten as chairman, following the latter's resignation, The Guardian reports.
Coe is understood to have been approached by government officials in an informal manner. He is seen as a strong contender due to his Conservative credentials, as well as his involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
His personal assistant Susie Black commented: "Seb is linked to every job in London and this is another one. This is speculation at the moment."
However, ITV News's Simon Harris tweeted that London Mayor Boris Johnson thinks Coe's appointment would be "fantastically good news for the BBC Trust and for broadcasting generally".
Patten announced his decision to step down as BBC Trust chairman, following major heart surgery, earlier this month.
- 5/28/2014
- Digital Spy
Chris Patten, who has absorbed some of the criticism for the BBC’s handling of the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse revelations and subsequent Newsnight scandal last year that rocked the UK pubcaster, has resigned from the post he has held since 2011. His contract was set to expire in April 2015. Vice Chairman Diane Coyle will take over as Acting Chairman until a successor is appointed. Patten cited recent successful heart surgery last month as the reason for his departure, saying in a memo that “On the advice of my doctors, however, and having consulted my family and friends, I cannot continue to work at the same full pace as I have done to date, and that I should reduce the range of roles I undertake. On this basis I have decided with great regret to step down from much the most demanding of my roles — that of Chairman of the BBC Trust.
- 5/6/2014
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten is to stand down with immediate effect after undergoing heart surgery.
The decision marks the end of a turbulent tenure for the former Hong Kong governor, who presided over the BBC’s Jimmy Savile and payoffs scandals after joining the governing body in May 2011.
Patten, who has previously had cardiac complications, said in a statement that he suffered “serious chest pains” on 27 April and after being admitted to hospital underwent successful bypass surgery the next day.
“On the advice of my doctors and having consulted my family and friends, I have concluded that I cannot continue to work at the same full pace as I have done to date, and that I should reduce the range of roles I undertake,” Patten said.
“On this basis I have decided with great regret to step down from much the most demanding of my roles – that of chairman of the BBC Trust. This is a position...
The decision marks the end of a turbulent tenure for the former Hong Kong governor, who presided over the BBC’s Jimmy Savile and payoffs scandals after joining the governing body in May 2011.
Patten, who has previously had cardiac complications, said in a statement that he suffered “serious chest pains” on 27 April and after being admitted to hospital underwent successful bypass surgery the next day.
“On the advice of my doctors and having consulted my family and friends, I have concluded that I cannot continue to work at the same full pace as I have done to date, and that I should reduce the range of roles I undertake,” Patten said.
“On this basis I have decided with great regret to step down from much the most demanding of my roles – that of chairman of the BBC Trust. This is a position...
- 5/6/2014
- ScreenDaily
BBC Trust chairman Lord Chris Patten announced he is immediately stepping down from his position due to health issues following major heart surgery last month. Patten, who underwent angioplasty and a cardiac ablation procedure seven years ago, began experiencing serious chest pains on April 27. The following day, he was successfully treated at the Royal Brompton Hospital with a combination of bypass surgery and angioplasty. Also read: Taylor Lautner Replacing Andy Samberg on BBC Comedy ‘Cuckoo’ “On the advice of my doctors, however, and having consulted my family and friends, I have concluded that I cannot continue to work at the same full.
- 5/6/2014
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
London --BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten is standing down with immediate effect on health grounds following major heart surgery. Vice chairman Diane Coyle will take over as acting chairman until a successor is appointed, the BBC Trust said May 6. Patten’s term as BBC Trust chairman was due to end in April 2015. A former MP, Patten took up the post in May 2011 and has steered the public broadcaster's governance through a slew of policy and era-defining moments for the broadcaster, most notably the fallout from the the former Top of the Pops host Jimmy Savile sex
read more...
read more...
- 5/6/2014
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The BBC Trust has announced the retirement of its Director Nicholas Kroll.
Kroll will leave the Trust in June, aged 60. After a career in Whitehall, he became the BBC's first director of governance in 2004 and the first Director of the BBC Trust on its establishment in 2007.
"At the end of a career in the public service, it has been a privilege to serve BBC Governors and BBC Trustees under three Chairmen for a period approaching ten years," Kroll said.
"During that period I believe the governance of the BBC has become stronger. The recent review of governance led by Lord Patten and Tony Hall will add to the Trust's capacity to hold the BBC to account on behalf of licence fee payers."
Trust chairman Lord Patten added: "Nicholas has been an outstanding public servant, exactly the sort of person that I hope will continue to be recruited in Whitehall and beyond.
Kroll will leave the Trust in June, aged 60. After a career in Whitehall, he became the BBC's first director of governance in 2004 and the first Director of the BBC Trust on its establishment in 2007.
"At the end of a career in the public service, it has been a privilege to serve BBC Governors and BBC Trustees under three Chairmen for a period approaching ten years," Kroll said.
"During that period I believe the governance of the BBC has become stronger. The recent review of governance led by Lord Patten and Tony Hall will add to the Trust's capacity to hold the BBC to account on behalf of licence fee payers."
Trust chairman Lord Patten added: "Nicholas has been an outstanding public servant, exactly the sort of person that I hope will continue to be recruited in Whitehall and beyond.
- 1/6/2014
- Digital Spy
From the wisdom of Malala to badgers moving the goalposts, we look back at the year's notable comments
January
Our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters, can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
Barack Obama at his second inauguration as Us president.
Yes.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong finally confessing, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, to taking performance enhancing drugs to win his seven Tour de France titles.
February
You will no doubt have many questions but I believe we will need a few days to organise ourselves because this announcement has taken us all by surprise.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi reacting to the...
January
Our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters, can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law, for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well.
Barack Obama at his second inauguration as Us president.
Yes.
American cyclist Lance Armstrong finally confessing, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, to taking performance enhancing drugs to win his seven Tour de France titles.
February
You will no doubt have many questions but I believe we will need a few days to organise ourselves because this announcement has taken us all by surprise.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi reacting to the...
- 12/29/2013
- The Guardian - Film News
London – The U.K. parliament has launched a review of the future of the BBC ahead of the public broadcaster's Royal charter ending in December of 2016. The Royal charter is the constitutional basis for the BBC and sets out the public purposes of the broadcasting giant, guarantees its political independence and outlines the duties of the Trust and the executive board. Photos: 11 British Actors Invading Hollywood's 'It List' The review launch comes less than 24 hours after BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten and Tony Hall, the director general of the U.K. public broadcaster, faced the latest grilling of
read more...
read more...
- 10/23/2013
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten and Tony Hall, the director general of the U.K. public broadcaster, on Tuesday faced the latest grilling of BBC top executives by the British parliament. After a year of scandals, the new BBC boss and the head of its governing body answered questions about executive salaries, severance payments and bullying. And they denied plans to sell off BBC Worldwide, the broadcaster's commercial arm. Story: BBC Director General Tony Hall Aims to Create a More 'Bespoke' Broadcaster Patten also said he hopes to publish a report "before Christmas" on the work he and Hall
read more...
read more...
- 10/22/2013
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten said Sunday evening that the U.K. public broadcaster is planning to cut the number of senior managers from around 2.5 percent of its workforce to about 1 percent by 2015. In a speech at the TV & Radio Museum in Turin, Italy, as part of the annual Prix Italia event, Patten, head of the governing body of the BBC, also discussed recent challenges and criticism of public broadcasters across Europe, arguing that continuing cost costs, more transparency and increased accountability were needed. Story: BBC Removes BBC Four Controller Role And he
read more...
read more...
- 9/22/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former BBC director-general, and current CEO of The New York Times Company, Mark Thompson, was grilled by British MPs today over severance packages paid out to senior execs towards the end of his time at the public broadcaster. The BBC is being scrutinized for making £25M in exit payments, some said to be in excess of contractual obligations. Public accounts committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge contended that today’s hearing was not to “bash the BBC,” rather it was designed to “get to the truth.” By the end, she had called the session “a grossly unedifying occasion.” Thompson was among seven witnesses providing testimony to the committee today, along with BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten. Patten had earlier said he was unaware of some of the payments and that he was “shocked and dismayed” that a £1M payment to Thompson’s former deputy director general Mark Byford in 2010/2011 exceeded his contractual entitlement.
- 9/9/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
London – The British government is looking to abolish the BBC Trust, the governing body of U.K. public broadcaster BBC, and hand oversight to broadcast regulator Ofcom, the Sunday Times reported. The move would put the BBC under the purview of the same agency that already oversees other British broadcasters. The report came before a parliamentary hearing on Monday. BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten and former BBC director general Mark Thompson -- currently the CEO of The New York Times Company -- along with others, will appear at the hearing to provide testimony about excessive severance payments by the broadcaster in
read more...
read more...
- 9/8/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – Former BBC director general Mark Thompson has accused BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten of "fundamentally misleading" the British parliament in a debate about excessive severance payments and his knowledge of them. A BBC news report and the Guardian said on Friday that in written evidence to parliament Thompson, who is now CEO of the New York Times Co., accuses Patten and BBC trustee Anthony Fry of telling "specific untruths and inaccuracies" at a July hearing. The BBC earlier this year was criticized by Britain's financial watchdog for making several severance payments that exceeded contractual promises. Patten said at
read more...
read more...
- 9/6/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten quoted Charles Dickens today in reflecting on the corporation’s last year: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” he said. Patten made the remark in presenting the BBC’s annual report for the year ended March 31. He was specifically referring to the ups and downs of 2012/2013 which included highs like coverage of the summer Olympics and lows like the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal. Speaking of the Savile crisis and of editorial troubles at flagship news magazine Newsnight, Patten said, “The BBC seriously let down both itself and license fee payers. Trust in the institution took a hit as a result, although it has begun to recover.” The fallout from the Savile scandal was costly in more ways than one. It was revealed that the broadcaster spent about £5M on investigations in the wake of the crisis while payments to outgoing execs also jumped.
- 7/16/2013
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
London – Embattled BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten said Tuesday that he plans not to seek a second term after his current one ends in 2015. "I have no present intention of seeking a second term," the BBC quoted the head of its governing body as saying as part of the U.K. public broadcaster's presentation of its annual report. Story: BBC Veteran Stuart Hall's Sentence for Sex Offenses to Be Reviewed Patten, who served as governor of Hong Kong before its handover to China, has been criticized for the broadcaster's handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal and
read more...
read more...
- 7/16/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – The BBC on Tuesday said in its annual report that public trust was "recovering to previous levels" after "one of the most turbulent years" in the history of the U.K. public broadcaster. "This has truly been a year like no other, with some incredible highs and some desperate lows," said BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten. "In both, there are lessons that we must learn." Video: BBC America Debuts First 'Burton and Taylor' Trailer (Video) He explained: "The Olympics was a high watermark, both in terms of content and in sign-posting the way to a
read more...
read more...
- 7/16/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- Former BBC director general Mark Thompson has contradicted comments from the head of the U.K. public broadcaster's governing body about severance payments that exceeded contractual obligations. Thompson, now CEO of The New York Times Co., said he "fully informed" the governing body, the BBC Trust and its chairman, Chris Patten, of all proposed severance deals in advance. Earlier in the week, Patten had told the public accounts committee of the British parliament's House of Commons that he wasn't aware of payouts that exceeded contractual promises until a recent report was presented by a finance watchdog. Thompson, set to
read more...
read more...
- 7/12/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- Top executives of the BBC and its governing body, the BBC Trust, on Wednesday were grilled and criticized by British parliamentarians about their role in severance payments to former managers that were found to have exceeded contractual promises. BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten told a committee of the U.K. parliament's House of Commons that the much-criticized payments, which were the topic of a recent report by the country's financial watchdog, the National Audit Office, had been a matter "of shock and dismay." Emphasizing that he was not told that payoffs went beyond contractual terms, Patten said
read more...
read more...
- 7/10/2013
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
✒Some of those who relished the Pirandellian spectacle of the BBC's coverage of the Queen's visit to New Broadcasting House on Friday (climaxing in especially postmodern fashion with her contribution to a Radio 4 special about, well, her visit to New Broadcasting House) consulted the maps for BBC staff of the "goldfish bowl" newsroom, as previously reproduced in MediaGuardian. And, yes, the spot where Hm stood as she appeared panto-style behind the news presenters is the No 1 no-go area, marked "please don't stand here".
✒This wasn't the only instance of royal scorn for the rules, as she wore a hat in the newsroom and was accompanied by an equerry equipped with a sword, both contrary to BBC guidelines though more alarmingly so in the latter case. At one point it seemed possible the sword might come in to use, when a second chap in military garb could be glimpsed making a...
✒This wasn't the only instance of royal scorn for the rules, as she wore a hat in the newsroom and was accompanied by an equerry equipped with a sword, both contrary to BBC guidelines though more alarmingly so in the latter case. At one point it seemed possible the sword might come in to use, when a second chap in military garb could be glimpsed making a...
- 6/9/2013
- by Monkey
- The Guardian - Film News
London – BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten has said he felt let down by BBC top executives who persuaded him to put his faith in a report that he argues painted a false picture of the public broadcaster's handling of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal and a planned report about it. Patten's "betrayal" at the hands of the BBC management is cited in evidence that the former British parliamentarian gave to an independent review carried out by former head of Sky News Nick Pollard into the handling of and fallout from the broadcaster's decision to drop a Newsnight report
read more...
read more...
- 2/21/2013
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A day after it faced harsh criticism in a review of its response to the Jimmy Savile/Newsnight crisis, the BBC has taken a lambasting from British lawmakers over a severance payment to former director general George Entwistle. The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament slammed the pubcaster for a “cavalier use of public money” when it agreed to pay Entwistle £450,000 ($714,000) upon his November resignation, twice the provisions in his contract. Entwistle resigned amid furor sparked by the BBC’s handling of the Savile sex scandal and questionable editorial decisions made at flagship current affairs program Newsnight. “Public servants should not be rewarded for failure. But that was exactly what happened when the BBC Trust paid off [Entwistle],” the committee said. In response, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten again defended the move to swiftly resolve Entwistle’s severance, telling BBC Radio 4 today, “The legal advice we had is: if we fought, we...
- 12/20/2012
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
In a three-hour session this morning, BBC Trust chairman Lord Chris Patten and acting BBC director general Tim Davie answered questions about ongoing troubles at the broadcaster. This was the same panel that grilled George Entwistle in October, two weeks before he was forced to resign as director general. Patten’s and Davie’s turns were somewhat less fraught, although Patten was often taken to task by one BBC-averse MP. Both Patten and Davie owned up to a “bad journalistic error” that led to the running of a recent Newsnight report that falsely implied former Margaret Thatcher adviser Lord McAlpine was a pedophile. However, Davie said he thought cancelling the 60 Minutes-like flagship program would be an “overreaction.” Disciplinary hearings are currently underway with the dozen or so people involved in the report. Davie allowed that trust in the BBC “has taken a knock,” adding, “It’s still the case that...
- 11/27/2012
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
London -- BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten told a parliamentary committee Tuesday that there were no legal grounds for the dismissal of the former BBC director general George Entwistle. Entwistle exited Nov. 11 after a reporting misstep made by flagship late-evening show Newsnight led to a former top British politician being linked to a child-abuse scandal. For many it was seen as a final straw for Entwistle, whose stint at the top of the broadcaster already had been buffeted by the ongoing fallout from the sexual-abuse allegations against former Top of the Pops presenter Jimmy Savile, who died in
read more...
read more...
- 11/27/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- BBC Trust Lord Patten said the public broadcaster, despite suffering "awful mistakes" and "occasional failings" is still the greatest public service broadcaster and "arguably the greatest broadcaster in the world." Patten, giving a speech atthe annual Voice of the Listener and Viewer Annual fall conflab, defended the BBC as it continues to be rocked by the ongoing fallout from the former Top of the Pops host Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal and various reporting missteps and controversies affecting flagship late evening show Newsnight. His speech comes as media observers, industry experts and commentators across the political spectrum await
read more...
read more...
- 11/26/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London -- The incoming BBC director general Tony Hall, in a hastily convened press conference with BBC Trust chief Lord Patten, said he wants to talk and listen to staff across the BBC as he gets ready to take up the reins at a broadcaster buffeted by scandal. Hall, appearing at the BBC's central London headquarters standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Patten, said he "wants to build a world-class team for this world-class organization" ading that he also wants the "right team in place, working off each other, sparking off each other." Hall made his first public
read more...
read more...
- 11/22/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lord Tony Hall has been chief executive of the Royal Opera House since 2001. He was also the BBC‘s head of news and current affairs from 1996-2001. His appointment to the BBC’s top job comes just 12 days after the resignation of former BBC director general George Entwistle amid ongoing crises at the venerable broadcaster. When Entwistle stepped down, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten promised he would waste no time in naming a new chief and although Hall is a former BBC employee, his appointment falls in line with speculation that a new director general would come from outside the corporation’s current staff. Patten today said Hall was “the right person to lead the BBC out of its current crisis” and that his journalism experience would be “invaluable as the BBC looks to rebuild its reputation.” Related: Update: Latest Fiasco At BBC Turns Up The Heat On Incoming New York Times CEO Hall,...
- 11/22/2012
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
London - A British parliamentary committee looking at the BBC's handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal and the resignation of the public broadcaster's director general earlier this month has added the top two BBC executives to its list of witnesses. Tim Davie, the BBC's acting director general, and Chris Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, the broadcaster's governing body, will give evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on Tuesday, ITV reported. The news is seen as a signal that the committee, chaired by Conservative member of parliament John Whittingdale, wants to get to the bottom of some widely criticized
read more...
read more...
- 11/21/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Outsider Expected To Replace George Entwistle At BBC Speculation about who will replace George Entwistle as director general of the BBC is growing in the UK. BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has promised the selection won’t be as drawn out as it was when it came to naming Entwistle in the first place. While some editorials have suggested the likes of BBC head of news Helen Boaden, who is on sabbatical owing to her own involvement in the corporation’s Jimmy Savile scandal, The Guardian suggests that Patten will favor outside contenders, even if the ongoing crisis might make the job look a little unattractive. Entwistle’s shock resignation after just 54 days as director general came earlier this month, as the BBC’s current affairs program Newsnight became embroiled in a second child sex scandal after the Savile affair, when it made false allegations against former Margaret Thatcher adviser Lord McAlpine.
- 11/20/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
London - BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten, who has started the process of looking for a new director general for the British public broadcaster after the resignation of George Entwistle, has come under renewed fire. A report in the Times of London, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., said that the outgoing leader of the broadcaster, Mark Thompson, who last week started his new job as CEO of the New York Times Co., had offered to stay on board longer to help Entwistle grow into the top job. Sources told the paper that Thompson emphasized his schedule was flexible enough
read more...
read more...
- 11/19/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London - The BBC Trust, the governing body of the British public broadcaster, held a meeting on Thursday to discuss next steps for the hiring process of a new director general. A spokeswoman for the trust declined to comment on details of the discussions, but a source said the trust reiterated its goal of picking a new leader within weeks. BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten had on Sunday set that timing target in a TV interview. Thursday's meeting focused on which short-listed candidates from the previous hiring process that took place over the summer should be invited back for another
read more...
read more...
- 11/15/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In this crossposting from The Conversation, journalism professor Brian McNair argues that Australia’s public service broadcaster has a lot to learn from the BBC’s disaster in the UK
As the BBC considers splitting the role of its chief executive and editor-in-chief, should the ABC give serious thought to adopting a similar model?
The ongoing turmoil at the BBC over an ever widening child sex abuse scandal demonstrates the difficulty of the senior manager of such a large and diverse organisation being charged with taking final editorial responsibility for the stories it runs.
There is much for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to learn from the PR disaster engulfing its British cousin. With a roughly similar corporate structure, the ABC should closely monitor how the BBC reacts to an incorrect story that cost director general George Entwistle his job, and move to ensure that it protects itself against a similar situation.
As the BBC considers splitting the role of its chief executive and editor-in-chief, should the ABC give serious thought to adopting a similar model?
The ongoing turmoil at the BBC over an ever widening child sex abuse scandal demonstrates the difficulty of the senior manager of such a large and diverse organisation being charged with taking final editorial responsibility for the stories it runs.
There is much for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) to learn from the PR disaster engulfing its British cousin. With a roughly similar corporate structure, the ABC should closely monitor how the BBC reacts to an incorrect story that cost director general George Entwistle his job, and move to ensure that it protects itself against a similar situation.
- 11/12/2012
- by mumbrella
- Encore Magazine
London – BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has penned a letter to the chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee John Whittingdale to defend the $715,000 pay off offered to departing BBC director general George Entwistle. Patten defended the terms of Entwistle’s resignation to Whittingdale after the committee chief and Conservative MP had earlier called for the Trust to make a case for such a large payment to be justifiable. Patten described the settlement as both “justified and necessary” in his letter because if the Trust had been forced to fire Entwistle they would have had
read more...
read more...
- 11/12/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Donald Trump tugs on Santa's beard and asks him if he's really Santa in the latest holiday commercial for Macy's, making 274,000 people who have signed a petition think he's made a birther joke and needs to be fired from Macy's. I dislike Donald as much as the next person, but is having doubt about Santa really a birther joke, or keeping with the Miracle On 34th Street theme from the ad?
Back in May, Sir Paul McCartney's private helicopter almost crashed when the pilot became disoriented and nearly took it into the trees. The incident is now being investigated. Maybe he should stick to traveling by crosswalk?
The NewNowNext SexPert Conner Habib has an interesting essay up on his blog arguing that pornography doesn't objectify people, but advertising that uses sex to sell a sandwich does. Food for thought.
Contrary to what we were taught by James Bond,...
Back in May, Sir Paul McCartney's private helicopter almost crashed when the pilot became disoriented and nearly took it into the trees. The incident is now being investigated. Maybe he should stick to traveling by crosswalk?
The NewNowNext SexPert Conner Habib has an interesting essay up on his blog arguing that pornography doesn't objectify people, but advertising that uses sex to sell a sandwich does. Food for thought.
Contrary to what we were taught by James Bond,...
- 11/12/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Lord Patten has addressed rumours that the corporation may drop Newsnight following the programme's editorial crisis. The BBC Trust chairman said that the end of BBC Two's late-night 50-minute political review slot would be "very sad". George Entwistle yesterday brought to a close the shortest ever reign as director general, resigning after 55 days due to a second scandal at Newsnight involving the false implication of a former politician in sex abuse claims. Interviewed on The Andrew Marr Show, Patten said that an unnamed Newsnight presenter is making a "rather quick judgement" by apparently (more)...
- 11/11/2012
- by By Paul Millar
- Digital Spy
London – BBC Trust chairman Chris Patten said Sunday that he is targeting to have a new director general for the British public broadcaster in place "within weeks, rather than months." Patten, appearing on the broadcaster's influential Andrew Marr Show Sunday morning to answer questions about Saturday's late night resignation of director general George Entwistle, said a speedy replacement was essential for the broadcaster. He also pointed out that other British media organizations, including Rupert Murdoch's newspaper publishing arm News International and its publications The Sun and The Sunday Times, could benefit from a weakened BBC. "[The BBC's editorial
read more...
read more...
- 11/11/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London - George Entwistle's surprise resignation late Saturday as director general of the BBC leaves the U.K. public broadcaster with a leadership vacuum. Tim Davie, currently the director of BBC audio and music, has been named the acting director general, but the BBC is widely expected to start the selection process for a full-time successor shortly. A spokeswoman didn't comment on the process. Entwistle was picked after a search process that produced a long list of candidates, which was narrowed down to four. The final candidates went through interviews led by BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten and his deputy Diane
read more...
read more...
- 11/11/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Gary Glitter Arrested In BBC Sex Abuse Scandal Disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, has become the first high-profile arrest in Scotland Yard’s Operation Yewtree investigation into sex abuse allegations against late BBC host Jimmy Savile. He was arrested at his London home and released on bail 10 hours later. It’s alleged that Gadd had sex with a schoolgirl in Savile’s BBC dressing room. He was deported from Cambodia in 2002 for suspected offenses and later logged jail time in Vietnam for child sex offenses. As the standards and practices of the corporation that allowed such abuse come under increasing fire, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten penned an editorial for the Mail On Sunday newspaper dubbing Savile a “devious psychopath” and promising a full account of what happened, “wherever its conclusions lead”. The two independent inquiries into what Patten calls “the whole sordid mess” are not smokescreens,...
- 10/28/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
London — Police investigating child sex abuse allegations against the late BBC television host Jimmy Savile arrested former glam rock star and convicted sex offender Gary Glitter on Sunday, British media reported, raising further questions about whether Savile was at the center of a broader pedophile ring.
Police would not directly identify the suspect arrested Sunday, but media including the BBC and Press Association reported he was the 68-year-old Glitter.
The musician, whose real name is Paul Gadd, made it big with the crowd-pleasing hit "Rock & Roll (Part 2)," a mostly instrumental anthem that has been a staple at American sporting events, thanks to its catchy "hey" chorus. But he fell into disgrace after being convicted on child abuse charges in Vietnam.
Sunday's arrest was the first in a widening scandal over Savile's alleged sex crimes. Hundreds of potential victims have come forward since police began the investigation into sex abuse allegations against Savile,...
Police would not directly identify the suspect arrested Sunday, but media including the BBC and Press Association reported he was the 68-year-old Glitter.
The musician, whose real name is Paul Gadd, made it big with the crowd-pleasing hit "Rock & Roll (Part 2)," a mostly instrumental anthem that has been a staple at American sporting events, thanks to its catchy "hey" chorus. But he fell into disgrace after being convicted on child abuse charges in Vietnam.
Sunday's arrest was the first in a widening scandal over Savile's alleged sex crimes. Hundreds of potential victims have come forward since police began the investigation into sex abuse allegations against Savile,...
- 10/28/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
London - The chairman of the BBC Trust in latest TV interviews predicted resignations at the U.K. public broadcaster amid probes in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sexual abuse scandal. And he said new BBC director general George Entwistle and others have questions to answer in connection with the scandal, which he called a "tsunami of filth." The chairman, Lord Patten, has so far defended Entwistle and the independence of the BBC, but he has in recent days come under pressure to demonstrate that he is asserting his authority in the wake of the scandal and can help
read more...
read more...
- 10/26/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The number of possible victims in the Bcc‘s escalating sex abuse scandal has grown to 300 from 200 over the past week. Additionally, other people may have acted with the accused man, the late Jimmy Savile, investigators said today. Savile, who was one of Britain’s most popular TV hosts, also was “undoubtedly” one of the most prolific sex offenders in recent British history, the New York Times reported. In preliminary telephone interviews with 130 potential victims, 114 accused Savile of criminal behavior ranging from “inappropriate touching” to rape. Of 300 possible victims, all but 2 have been female. The vast majority of complaints have been against Savile, but a number of other “living people” are under investigation. BBC Trust Chairman Lord Patten meanwhile told ITV News he would not be surprised if the Savile scandal resulted in disciplinary action or even resignations of BBC staff. Patten said he had to be realistic. “We have...
- 10/26/2012
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
London - BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has sent a letter to culture secretary Maria Miller defending the public broadcaster's independence amid sexual abuse allegations against late TV host Jimmy Savile. Patten's letter followed the appearance of BBC director general George Entwistle in front of government ministers Tuesday to answer questions as the debate about the role of various executives in a dropped BBC TV report about the allegations continues. The culture secretary urged Patten to become more personally involved, because "very real concerns are being raised about public trust and confidence in the BBC," according to British media reports. The
read more...
read more...
- 10/24/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
London – BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten said Wednesday he has written to newly-appointed BBC director general George Entwistle seeking reassurances that the public broadcaster has "up to date" policies to guard against incidents of bullying, sexual harassment and rules governing whistleblowers. Patten's move comes on the back of what the BBC Trust chairman described as "the cesspool" of allegations of sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile, the late host of music charts show Top of the Pops and one of the BBC's shining star presenters for over 20 years. Patten, answering a rigorous question and answer session about the
read more...
read more...
- 10/10/2012
- by Stuart Kemp
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
✒ With 21 of their number arrested so far, Sun journalists naturally resent the presence of police investigating wrongdoing at News International in a Wapping building near their paper's offices. And tension between cops and hacks was increased when one plain-clothes officer was spotted happily munching in the Ni canteen. How was he recognised? Easy: by one of the people he had arrested. Tom Mockridge, Ni's chief executive, is said to have been incandescent when he heard, and has since banned the police from the canteen.
✒ Hugh Grant is clearly not only a huge asset to the Hacked Off campaign, but also a slightly subversive team member. When the anti-redtop usual suspects (Max Mosley, Steve Coogan, Chris Bryant MP, Charlotte Harris etc) gathered at Westminster last week for the launch of Everybody's Hacked Off, the Four Weddings star was a mischievous, BoJo-esque Mc. The pamphlet's author, Brian Cathcart, is known to his...
✒ Hugh Grant is clearly not only a huge asset to the Hacked Off campaign, but also a slightly subversive team member. When the anti-redtop usual suspects (Max Mosley, Steve Coogan, Chris Bryant MP, Charlotte Harris etc) gathered at Westminster last week for the launch of Everybody's Hacked Off, the Four Weddings star was a mischievous, BoJo-esque Mc. The pamphlet's author, Brian Cathcart, is known to his...
- 9/23/2012
- by Monkey
- The Guardian - Film News
London - The search for a new director-general for the BBC kicked off this week after Mark Thompson last month confirmed he would leave the reins of the British public broadcaster to someone else after the Summer Olympics. But all indications are that it won't be an easy process - or an easy job, for that matter. Among the BBC's challenges have been how to redefine the broadcaster's public service duties in the digital age, how to make it more effective and less bureaucratic and how to position it amid increased competition and globalization. BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten, who will
read more...
read more...
- 4/13/2012
- by Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In a move that had been expected for the past few months, Mark Thompson announced his exit this afternoon in a letter to staff. “This morning I told (BBC chairman) Lord Patten that I believe that an appropriate time for me to hand over to a successor and to step down as Director-General of the BBC would be the autumn of this year, once the Olympics and the rest of the amazing summer of 2012 are over,” Thompson wrote. “I have told the Chairman that I believe that he and the Trust should begin the public process of finding the next Dg as soon as they see fit,” he added. The Guardian opines that Thompson’s exit could see the first female Dg at the BBC, with COO Caroline Thomson and head of news Helen Boaden among the names circulating internally. BBC Vision chief George Entwistle is also said to be a candidate.
- 3/19/2012
- by NANCY TARTAGLIONE, International Editor
- Deadline TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.